Portland, OR–Sudden cardiac death. Not something we usually associate with teenagers, but experts say one in 500 teens have a heart condition that can sometimes be fatal.

Bev Heller of Scappoose lost her 17-year-old son David to this silent killer and now she’s raising awareness in an effort to save lives.

David Heller was a basketball star at Central Catholic High School. An inspirational young man full of life until the night before Thanksgiving in 2005.

“We found him the next morning—he had died in his sleep. He died of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy a heart condition,” said Bev Heller. “It’s the most common cause of sudden death in athletes.”

Just last month Quinn Driscoll, a Vancouver 8th grader collapsed and died during track practice from the same undiagnosed heart condition also known as HCM.

Emily Flanagan is one of 250 teenagers being screened for potential heart problems at this special event organized by Bev Keller.

High school athletes go through physicals every two years, but they don’t include the simple cardio tests being performed at this one day screening.

“I took a proposal to the hospital and said we should really start screening kids. Healthy kids don’t just die, so our goal is to really start educating parents,” said Keller.

More than 90 volunteers including cardiologists and nurses from Legacy Hospital are examining heart rhythms and family histories.

Emily’s screening didn’t turn up any problems, but her brother was among about 10 kids red flagged by cardiologists.

“We knew David before he died,” Emily’s mom Kristie Flanagan said. “I just think as parents it’s important that we know our kids are safe. Turns out, one of our sons was told he now has to get further testing done with our doctor. I never would have thought we should do that.

Heller looked at the large crowd and said, “I’m humbled and proud that we're doing something that would help another kid. We can't change our past it is what it is and we don’t have our son. However, I think it's a good legacy for him. I think he’d be proud that we're trying to help other kids.”

Once diagnosed, HCM can be treated to prevent sudden cardiac death.

Bev Heller hopes area school districts will consider screening kids for potential cardiac problems during routine physicals. She has no doubt it’s an effort that would save young lives.

-Wayne Havrelly for Kgw.com